Physical and Mental Health – Broader BOLDER Approach to Education

BBA blog posts on importance of children’s mental and physical well-being

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:20:56 +0000

These BBA blog posts offer a range of perspectives on the importance of attending to children’s mental and physical well-being in order to boost learning:

In Crunching Test Scores Isn’t Enough, veteran DCPS high school math teacher David Tansey compares the impact of his at-risk students’ daily life experiences on their approaches to learning to his own suburban high school context.
Does Reform Have to Mean Separate and Unequal? uses the contrast in approaches between neighboring districts DCPS and MCPS to show how excessive focus on test scores to the neglect of children’s social, emotional, and other needs and skills can undermine their progress, rather than close gaps.
In Deconstructing PISA, Elaine Weiss and former Boston Public Schools superintendent Thomas Payzant point to comprehensive health care in Massachusetts as one of several reasons for that state’s tie with high-scoring Finland on the international assessment (in contrast to Florida students’ company with their Romanian peers).

BBA case studies

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:19:28 +0000

BBA case studies illustrate how supports for children’s physical, mental, and dental health care be incorporated into the school day and system and resulting benefits.

California’s SBHCs impact on learning

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:18:06 +0000

A leading state in the use of school-based health centers, (see map on nationwide SBHCs) California has been the focus of recent studies, as summarized in these facts sheets: need and impact in serving low-income communities and their impact on learning.

Strategies and systems supporting both physical and mental health

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:15:20 +0000

Strategies and systems must support not only physical, but students’ mental health as well.

The Center for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has long been a leader in advancing Social and Emotional Learning in public education. Its Collaborating Districts Initiative offers eight diverse examples of how to incorporate SEL in practice.
The UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools, which works to integrate supports for student physical and emotional well-being into school and system practice, provides a range of resources, including a Practitioner and Professional Development virtual toolbox.
The GW Center for Health and Health Care in Schools produced Build.Grow, which helps support children’s healthy physical, mental and emotional development.

Mapping the Early Attendance Gap: Charting a Course for Student Success

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:12:20 +0000

State-level strategies have been successful in addressing early chronic absence.

Mapping the Early Attendance Gap: Charting a Course for Student Success, a joint report by Attendance Works and the Healthy Schools Campaign, explains key factors driving early chronic absence and sets out state-level strategies to ensure that all children, in particular those at high risk, can come to class focused, learn effectively, and thrive.

2015 National Collaborative on Education and Health Chronic Absenteeism Working Group Report

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:08:19 +0000

Poor health is a key driver of chronic absence, which limits at-risk students’ achievement.

This 2015 National Collaborative on Education and Health Chronic Absenteeism Working Group Report summarizes the physical, mental, and other health issues that drive chronic absenteeism and provides health improvement strategies to reduce it.

CDC Healthy Schools website

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:05:58 +0000

The Center for Disease Control has a Healthy Schools Website, which provides data, multimedia, tools, training, and a variety of other CDC resources to advance whole-child education.

School-Based Health Alliance’s seven core competencies

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:04:08 +0000

The School-Based Health Alliance, in partnership with its state affiliates and experts from the school-based health care field, developed this set of seven core competencies that encompass the common characteristics of great school-based health centers (SBHCs).

Healthy Schools Campaign

Don Long — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:02:21 +0000

The Healthy Schools Campaign models a strategic, clear and comprehensive approach to helping schools provide students with healthy environments, nutritious food, opportunities for physical activity and experiences that support lifelong healthy habits. In Chicago, Parents United for Healthy Schools brings together parents, educators and community leaders to advance health and wellness in schools. They helped bring back recess after a 20-year absence, supported breakfast in classrooms, and have successfully advocated for a strong district health and wellness policy.